Hematology Flashcards
What tests should be ordered initially if anemia is suspected?
- Reticulocyte count
- Haptoglobin
- LDH
- Total and direct bilirubin
- TSH with T4
- B12 and folate level
- Iron studies
- Urinalaysis with microscopic analysis
- CBC with peripheral smear
A pt presenting with complaints of craving ice or dirt (Pica) suggest the pt is suffering from …
Anemia
What is the best initial test for suspected anemia?
CBC with peripheral smear (focus on MCV and MCHC)
A pt presenting with fatigue/ loss of energy, pallor, pale conjunctiva, microcytic anemia, elevated platelets and history of blood loss most likely suffers from …
Iron deficiency
What is the best initial diagnostic test and associated findings for iron deficiency?
iron studies
low ferritin, high TIBC, low Fe, low Fe sat, elevated RDW bc new cells are progressively smaller
What is the most accurate test for iron deficiency?
bone marrow biopsy (do not perform on CCS)
What is the treatment for iron deficiency?
ferrous sulfate orally (turns stools dark)
A pt presenting with fatigue/ loss of energy, pallor, pale conjunctiva, microcytic anemia and a history of rheumatoid arthritis/ end stage renal disease/ chronif infection/inflammatory or connective tissue disease most likely suffers from …
Anemia of chronic disease
normal/ increased iron in storage (ferritin/TIBC), but inability to process it into usable cells
What is the best initial diagnostic test and associated findings for anemia of chronic disease?
iron studies
high ferritin, low TIBC, low Fe, normal or low Fe sat
What is the treatment for anemia of chronic disease?
correct the underlying disease
A pt presenting with possible fatigue/ loss of energy, microcytic anemia with very small MCV and the presence of target cells on smear most likely suffers from …
Thalassemia
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for Thalassemia?
Hemoglobin Electrophoresis
(beta thal- elevated Hg2, HgF; alpha thal- normal)
(alpha thal best diagnosed with DNA sequencing)
A pt presenting with fatigue/ loss of energy, pallor, pale, conjunctiva, microcytic anemia and a history of alcoholism/ isoniazid use/ lead exposure most likely suffers from …
Sideroblastic anemia
iron builds up in mitochondria
What is the best initial diagnostic test for sideroblastic anemia?
iron studies
high Fe
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for sideroblastic anemia?
prussian blue stain
detect iron build up in mitochondria
What is the best treatment for sideroblastic anemia?
- major: remove toxin exposure
2. minor: pyridoxine replacement
What is the initial best step in management of a pt > 50 years old who presents with microcytic anemia?
Colonscopy (to rule out colon cancer)
What cause of anemia of chronic disease is the only form that will respond to erythropoietin?
end stage renal disease
A pt presenting with fatigue/ loss of energy, pallor, pale conjunctiva, neuro deficits (peripheral neuropathy), glossitis (smooth tongue), diarrhea and macrocytic anemia most likely suffers from …
Vitamin B12 deficiency
What diabetic medication can result in vitamin B12 deficiency by blocking absorption of B12?
metformin
What is the best initial test for macrocytic anemia (vitamin B12 deficiency and folate deficiency)?
CBC with peripheral smear (look for hypersegmented neutrophils and oval cells)
(also order bilirubin, LDH and reticulocyte count)
A pt presenting with fatigue/ loss of energy, pallor, pale conjunctiva and macrocytic anemia with normal neuro exam most likely suffers from ..
Folate deficiency
What are the lab findings associated with the ineffective erythropoiesis associated with vitamin B12 deficiency? (3)
- high LDL (RBC destruction)
- high bilirubin (RBC destruction)
- low reticulocyte count (RBC destruction)
What is the first sign/symptom to correct after starting B12 replacement therapy for vitamin B12 deficiency?
reticulocyte count ( neuro corrects last)
What is the most accurate test for suspected vitamin B12 deficiency?
B12 level (low; but can be falsely elevated bc it is an acute phase reactant)
If suspect vitamin B12 deficiency but the B12 level is normal or high, what is the next best test to detect vitamin B12 deficiency?
methylmalonic acid level (elevated in B12 deficiency)
What is the most accurate test for suspected folate deficiency?
folate level
After finding a low B12 level or elevated methylmalonic acid level in a vitamin B12 deficiency pt, what is the next best test to confirm the etiology of the B12 deficiency?
antiparietal cell antibodies and anti-intrinsic factor antibodes (to detect pernicious anemia)
(can use Schilling’s test if antibodies not present)
What electrolyte imbalance can occur after treating vitamin B12 deficiency?
hypokalemia (low potassium)
A pt presents with sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, and decreased haptoglobin most likely suffers from …
hemolytic anemia
What are the initial tests that should be performed in a pt with suspected hemolytic anemia?
- CBC with peripheral smear
- LDH
- bilirubin
- reticulocyte count
- haptoglobin level
A pt presents with pain the in chest, back, thighs that is very severe in the setting of hemolytic anemia most likely suffers from…
sickle cell anemia
What is the best initial step in management of a sickle cell anemia pt?
oxygen, hydration (continuous NS IV), and pain meds
What is the next best step in management of a sickle cell anemic pt with a fever?
give antibiotics (ceftriaxone, levofloxacin, moxifloxacin) while ordering blood cultures, urinalysis, reticulocyte count, CBC and chest X-ray
What are the four indications for exchange transfusion in a sickle cell patient (to decrease hemoglobin S to 30-40%)?
- eye (visual disturbance from retinal infarct)
- lung (pulmonary infarct leading to pleuritic pain and abnormal X-ray)
- penis (priapism from infarct of prostatic plexus veins)
- brain (stroke)
A pt with sickle anemia presenting/ developing sudden drop in the hematocrit while on folate replacement most likely suffers from …
Parvovirus B19 infection (could be folate deficiency if not on folate)
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for suspected parvovirus B19 infection?
DNA PCR for parvovirus
What is the treatment for parvovirus B19 infection in a sickle cell pt or hemoglobinopathy pt?
transfusions and IV immunoglobulins
What are three things that should be prescribed upon discharge for a sickle cell patient?
- folate replacement
- pneumococcal vaccine
- hydroxyurea (to prevent further crisis if they happen > 4 times per year)
What is the mechanism of action of hydroxyurea in the treatment of sickle cell disease?
increases percentage of fetal hemoglobin (to dilute out sickle hemoglobin)
A pt presents with hematuria, isothenuria (inability to concentrate or dilute urine), urinary tract infections and possible visual disturbances in the setting of mild hemolytic anemia most likely suffers from ..
hemoglobin sickle cell (SC) disease
sickle cell trait disease
A pt presents with sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, decreased haptoglobin, spherocytes and a history of autoimmune disease/ CLL/ penicillin or sulfa drug use most likely suffers from …
Autoimmune Hemolysis
What is the most accurate diagnostic test for autoimmune hemolysis?
Coombs test (detect IgG antibodies call warm antibodies)
What is the best initial treatment for autoimmune hemolysis?
steroids (prednisone)
What is the next best in management of a pt with auto immune hemolysis who is suffering from severe anemia not responsive to steroids or repeated blood transfusions?
IV immunoglobulins (to stop acute episode; predicts response to splenectomy)
What is the next best step in management for autoimmune hemolysis if a pt experiences recurrent episodes of hemolysis?
splenectomy
A pt presents with sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, decreased haptoglobin and has a history of syphillis, mycoplasma or EBV infection most likely suffers from …
Cold-induced hemolysis (cold agglutinins)
coombs negative; complement test positive
What is the best treatment for cold-induced hemolysis (cold agglutinins)?
Rituximab (antibody against CD20 receptor on antibody producing cells)
A male pt presents with sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, severe anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, decreased, haptoglobin, and has a history of fava bean ingestion/ infection/ use of oxidizine drug (sulfa, primaquine, dapsone) most likely suffers from …
Glucose 6 Phosphate Dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency
What is the best initial test for glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency?
Heinz body (precipated hemoglobin in RBC membrane); bite cells on smear
What is the most accurate test for glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency?
G6PD level (about 2 months after acute disease)
What diagnostic test should be performed before starting treatment with dapsone?
G6PD level (to rule out glucose 6 phosphate dehydrogenase deficiency to avoid hemolysis)
A pt presents with sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, severe anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, decreased haptoglobin and without significant history findings most likely suffers from …
Pyruvate Kinase Deficiency
similiar to G6PD deficiency with no known causes
A pt presents with recurrent episodes of sudden onset of weakness, fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, elevated reticulocyte count, elevated LDH, decreased haptoglobin, spherocytes and has associated splenomegaly, bilirubin gallstones, elevated MCHC and positive family history most likely suffers from …
Hereditary Spherocytosis
genetic loss of ankryin & spectrin cytoskeleton of RBC membrane
What is the treatment for Hereditary Spherocytosis?
splenectomy (give pneumococcal vaccine)
A pt presents with intravascular hemolysis (fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, retic count and LDH, decreased haptoglobin), elevated BUN and creatinine (renal failure), and thrombocytopenia after infection with E.Coli 0157:H7 most likely suffers from …
Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS)
triad: ART- autoimmune hemolysis, renal failure, thrombocytopenia
A pt presents with intravascular hemolysis (fatigue, anemia, elevated indirect bilirubin, retic count and LDH, decreased haptoglobin), elevated BUN and creatinine (renal failure), thrombocytopenia, fever and neuro abnormalities , and a possible history of ticlopidine use most likely suffers from ….
Thrombocytopenic Purpura (TTP)
pentad: FAT RN- fever, autoimmune hemolysis, thrombocytopenia, renal failure, neuro issues
What should be avoided in the treatment of hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS)? (2)
- platelet transfusions
2. antibiotics for E.Coli
What is the treatment for hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP)?
plasmaphersis (if severe; otherwise self-limiting)
replaces ADAMTS-13
What diagnostic test is used for suspected hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) and thrombocyotpenic purpura (TTP)?
ADAMTS-13 level
breaks down von Willebrand factor that causes platelets to bind into long chain
A pt presenting with recurrent episodes of dark urine in the morning and pancytopenia with signs of hemolytic anemia most likely suffers from ..
Paroxysmal Nocturnal Hemoglobinuria (PNH)
What is the most common cause of death from paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)?
large vessel venous thrombosis (portal vein thrombosis)
What is the most accurate test for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)?
CD55 and CD 59 antibody (decay accelerating factor)
What is the best initial treatment for paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)?
steroids (prednisone)
What is the best treatment for transfusion dependent pts with severe paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH)?
eculizumab (inhibits C-5 and prevents complement activation)
A pregnant pt presenting with weakness/ fatigue, elevated liver function tests, fragments red cells on blood smear, thrombocyotpenia and normal coagulation studies most likely suffers from …
HELLP syndrome (hemolysis, elevated liver function tests, low platelets syndrome)